Machine for shrinking and drying cloth.



No. 887,788. W

W. G. GUTTSQH LLL.

MACHINE F051 $HRINKING AND BE 3 SHEETQ-SHEBT 1.

APPLIOATIOIT FILED D3011. 1907.

No. 887,788. PATENTED MAY 1.9, 1908. w, G. GOTTSGHALL,

MAGHHJE FUR SHRINKZNG AND DRYING CLOTH,

momm: Burn ma0.'"1, 1 7. l D 90 3SHEETS-SHEET2 1I0.88'. ,788 PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

G. GOTTSGHALL.

MACHINE FOR SHRINKING AND DRYING CLOTH,

PPLIO'TIOH FILED 1330.11.190 A A 7 s SHEETSHEET s,

Ill

supports, traveling on an incline to a rack or overhead convcyer for exposing'the fabrics to evaporation, is arranged to carry the poles in succession against the woolen cloth to form fcstoons over the poles. On the for wind end ol an overhead rack ll, in suitable bearings, is mounted a shaft 12 in alincment with and to the rear oi shaft 7. Forward of the frame A, and below shaft 7 is mounted, in suitable bearings, a shalt l3 driven from shalt 7 by means of the alined pulleys 14- and 15' on shafts 7 and 13, respectively, and the belt 16. A pair of sprockets 18 alined therewith on opposite ends of shaft i2 carry two parallel endless chains forming a conveyor l), having a central open space wider thanthe width of the woolen cloth, the chains being provided with a plurality of lingers arranged at corresponding intervals in the exterior s i rlace of each and curved in the direction of travel of thc conveyer. The poles or cloth supports 1 are laid crosswise of the machine in a racl ll located above the lower end of the conveyor 1), and provided with.

inclined lingers 20 adapted to support the opposite ends of each pole to guide the same in a zig-zag downward inclii ed run, and there susp d each in turn in the path of the lingers l5) so that the poles are picked up, by the pairs of lii'igers l9 and carried crosswise by the conveyor B. The various revolving parts above described are so timed that the rolls l.- and C will have dropped a length of damp woolen cloth into the open. space between the parallel chains of conveyor D to hang below it in a fall bclorc the iirst pole picked oil the rack it runs into it. The weight of the fall of damp woolen cloth coming in contact with the pole and turned over it, creates a triotional grip between the two, thus carrying tht Woolen cloth along with the conveyor, while the continuing feed from rolls C C make a fold or bight behind the first pole.

The positive l'ecd above described insures the lalls or bights being of regular length throughout the operation. The poles are presented squarely at right angles to the woolen cloth by--thc conveycr l) and the interval between them is such as to allow the feed to form long fold or bight of woolen cloth between succeeding poles, coi'istitui'ing a series of long 'lcstoons.

The conveyor 1) is adapted to present the ladenpoles or cloth-supports p to an overhead carrier or conveyor E, carried by shaft 32 and a shaft 2t, the latter being mounted in uitable bearings secured at the rear of r== ll. A mir of sprockets 22 on opposite ends of slmlr', 21 are aliucd with a pair of s 'niicliids 23 on opposite ends of shaft 12, and u c sprochcts carry two parallel endless chum; or bolts lormh'ig the convcycr or can ricr l; with a ccnti'zd open space similar to that in convcycz' ll. The laden poles are delivered upon the top of carrier l5, the

weight of the damp woolen cloth creating sufficient friction between the poles p and conveyor E to cause the former to be carried longitudinally of the rack ll on the conveyor E. I prefer to drive this conveyor from the drive-shaft 8 by means of alincd pulleys, pulley 2401i shaft 8 and pulley 25 on shaft 26 mounted in hearings on the forward end oi rack R, and rotatively connected by belt 27. Shaft 26 is located above shaft 12 in vertical alinement therewith. A gear 28 on shaft 26 entraining with an idler or gear 29 on shaft 30 located intermediate of and in alinement with shafts 12 and 2.6, which in turn entrain with a gear 31 on shaft 12 drives conveyer E, as indicated by the arrows.

The rack R may be of any suitable length and is adapted to suspend the carrier E to form a traveling support of woolen cloth to hang down therefrom. While on this rack the cloth is exposed to the evaporating action of the air, which, if desired, may be accelerated by fans or air blasts. After the cloth is thus dried, it is removed and the poles collected, I prefer to accomplish this by providing at the end of the machine cloth take off roll F,'res ing upon a drum 32 from which it is frictionally driven, held at the ends by slotted A-shaped drawing the end of 1e woolen over theguide drums 34 and mounted on a support 36 secured to the rear of the rack above conveyer E, down to roller F and fastening it thereto. On shaft 21 near the ends is a pair of pulleys 22 in vertical alinement with and corresponding to a pair of pulleys 37 on a shaft 38 supported in suitable bearings below the tail of the rack. Corresponding pulleys of each pair carry one of apair of parallel belts or endless chains forming the conveyer G, provided on the exteriors with opposite corresponding fingers g curved in the direction of travelof the carrier and adapted to pick off the poles p by the ends as the latter freed from the ,Weight of the Woolen travel within their path on the conveyer E. At the bottom of the conveyer G they are dropped into a receptacle or return conveycr (not shown) for replacement iILtlle rack R. The roller 32, which drives'the take-oil roll F, is in turn driven by means of a pulley 39 on shaft 38, the pulley 41 on the shaft of roll 32 and the belt 40, which rotatively connects them.

I am aware that many changes and m0difications may be made in the machine described and shown, and I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, but

l Vhat I claim is:

1. ln a woolen cloth shrinking and drying machine, a cloth roll adapted to have wound upon it in alternate thicknesses woolen cloth and moistcning fabric; means cooperating with. said cloth roll for winding said moistening labric oil said cloth roll; feed rolls above said cloth roll adapted to grasp an end of the guide bearings 33 and in width of woolen cloth and pull it regularly and evenly off of said-cl'dfi roll in an even, unwrinkled fall behind said feed rolls; poles or cloth supports and inclined endless carriers on opposite sides of said fall adapted to present said poles or cloth support-s at regular intervals substantially at right angles to said fall, whereby sazd clothis festooned in substantially equal lengths on said poles or supports.

2. In a machine of the class described, a cloth'roll adapted to have wound upon it in alternate thicknesses Woolen cloth and moistening fabrics; means for Winding ofi said fabric; feed rolls above saideloth roll adapted to grasp an end of said cloth, stretch it and pull it in a regular and even fall behind said rolls; cloth supports; endless'conveyers;

fall adapted to pick up said poles at regular intervals and bring them in contact with said cloth at right angles thereto; to festoon the cloth in equal lengths; and an overhead car- 'rier adapted to sup ort said poles and expose the clot.1- to nature evaporation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

inclined, as shown, on opposite sides of said 

